Fardin Salehi’s father, who has been the victim of a policy of forced disappearances in PJAK, said in an interview with Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch that he had visited Iraq and the village of Behnavian twice since his son left, but that PJAK forces did not allow him to visit his son.
For this reason, there has been a verbal conflict between him and the armed members of PJAK.
Mr. Salehi is currently working as a laborer, and in this interview he emphasized that he did not receive any information about his son’s whereabouts or health after joining the PJAK / PKK armed group.
“Fardin has left home for three years,” Fardin’s father told the Observer. He had literally no reason to do so. He was underage, but employed and studying at the same time. He had no problems at work or at home. I guess somebody near his school incited him to join an armed group. It has been reported that other classmates of his had been tricked into joining before.”
“I was in Tehran when he left Iran. When I returned, I realized that more than two weeks had passed since he left, and I tried to bring him back home. I found out through a friend of mine in Panjwin that Fardin had been sent to a village called (Behnavian). I went twice to see him. But PJAK forces did not allow it. As a result, there was a serious conflict between me and them. I did not go to that village anymore. I mean, I haven’t seen Fardin for three years. A prisoner sentenced to death has the right to visit; But PJAK does not allow its members to visit their families! My son was in the third grade of high school and was 16. I want him back home.”
“They are like prisoners over there! They are not even allowed one single telephone call!”
Mr. Salehi added: “I am a border worker myself. A kolber, if you know what that is. We bring stuff over the border. We play with our souls. Fardin’s mother is also not well. Especially since Fardin was a calm boy with no problems.”
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch emphasizes that hundreds of Iranian children, adolescents and young people have disappeared in the PJAK group. The deaths of these people have not been confirmed and their fate has not been cleared up by PJAK.
